Maka's Dark Soul Problem

By: DemonClowSorceress

Disclaimer: *checks ownership name of Soul Eater* Well, it's not my name, or my nickname, or any of my aliases...dammit. I guess I don't own Soul Eater.

Part Four

Adagio of the Soul, Danse de la Faux

Maka could barely think past the haze that Allavalia had cast over her mind and body. All she knew was that she, Tsubaki, Liz, and Patti were now under the serpent witch's control and that Soul, Black*Star, Kid, and Dark had a plan to save them. She'd caught Soul saying something about Adagio of the Soul - the same piece they'd used to defeat Giriko. Maybe he'll use it to slow us down, she thought hopefully. If you slow a Chain Resonance, it's easier to break than if it's going its normal frequency.

When she saw Soul and Dark switch places, she felt the twinge of jealousy in her heart pick up again. Then she heard what Soul said about him and Dark having been partners before he came to Shibusen, and the twinge became a little more painful. So...I'm not the first. He's shown his soft side, his protective side, to someone else.

And then she heard the music.

Allavalia forced her to grasp Tsubaki's scythes and lunge for Soul as Liz provided cover fire, but Maka knew already that it was hopeless. Adagio of the Soul, coupled with Kid's Soul Perception and the boys' Chain Resonance, was already whittling down the girls' forced Chain Resonance. Liz's sharpshooter aim was already starting to waver, missing Kid and Black*Star slightly. Maka could barely catch up to Dark, who wasn't even fighting her but drawing the girl away from the Hydra and Allavalia, biding her time.

Suddenly, Maka felt like she was walking through jelly. Adagio is starting to take effect, she thought with relief. She used her Soul Perception and saw the snakes coiled around the girls' souls were beginning to shudder, writhing and twitching as the music ensnared them. It was just as beautiful as the last time she'd heard it, and now that she was actually on the recieving end, she could tell exactly how it was affecting her. It was like she hit the notes in the Spider Queen's web, and the more she hit, the slower she got, getting tangled in the music.

Dark suddenly got right in her face, smiling wide and showing her fang. "Get ready, Maka Albarn," she said, her silvery eyes glittering. "We're going to have some fun now." Releasing Soul with one hand, she transformed her hand into the spade-shaped blade of her weapon form. In the span of a second she knocked Tsubaki from Maka's hands and shoved Soul into them. Her now-free hand snatched up both of Tsubaki's scythes, capturing the Demon Weapon as her spade blade extended from her arm by its chain and lassoed Maka to prevent Allavalia from taking her away. "Black*Star! Kid!" she shouted over her shoulder. "Buy us some time! If we can free Maka, we can get the others out easier!"

The overwhelming power of the Adagio flowed directly into Maka, stunning her motionless. But it was ending, the crescendo beginning to ebb away. Panic seized Maka. No, no you can't be done! she thought. Allavalia will make me - she'll gain control of me again, and then she'll get you!

But then the melody changed into something darker, something twisted - and something familiar. This is what he first played for me, Maka thought, her eyes sliding shut as the tune drew her soul into his. This first dark song that sealed our fate.

Soul Eater Evans

Soul couldn't help but breathe a sigh when he saw Maka enter the Black Room. He'd been scared that his playing wouldn't have gotten her to enter, that Allavalia's power was too great. But when she walked through the crimson hanging curtains, he could almost feel his closely guarded hope break free and wash through his body. He knew it now. No witch could seperate him from his meister.

That relief morphed into panic when he saw the look in her eyes when she saw Dark standing beside him. Her scowl deepened upon seeing Dark's dress. A wine red tutu that descended to her knees, it was an elegant creation of tulle and satin. The bodice was fitted and had intricate rose patterns outlined in black, and was only held up with the thinnest black straps. Her hair was pulled back into a tight bun atop her head with roses placed around it like a small tiara. Tied around her neck was a black choker that bore a gilded red rose in full bloom, and she wore black pointe shoes that tied halfway up her calves over white tights.

His childhood friend touched his shoulder, halting his song. "Go to her," she said. "Talk to her. Chances are you can fix this misunderstanding better with a dance than a fight." Pushing him off the piano bench, Dark rearranged her tulle skirt and began to play, picking up right where Soul had left off. "A ballerina isn't much good when jazz is playing," she remarked offhandedly.

The white-haired boy nodded and strode over to his meister, tugging his black tie a little looser. Maka still wore that dress of Allavalia's, and he wanted nothing more than to tear it off her. It showed that she wasn't yet free. It showed that she wasn't his.

But he didn't rip the offending garment off. He liked his head without the dent from a Maka Chop.

So he went up to her and bowed, offering his hand like the gentleman he'd been bred and raised to be. "Wanna dance, Maka?"

She stared at his hand like it had personally offended her. "What's she doing here?" spat Maka.

"Someone has to play while we dance. Or would you rather have that annoying lil' demon here?" Placing her hands in their correct positions, Soul led his partner in time with the first piece he ever played for her. "Are you jealous, Maka?" he teased.

"Why do you care?" snapped his meister irritably.

Soul saw hints of those serpent eyes returning and shook his head to dismiss her question. "No reason. Just curious." Taking care not to get his foot impaled by her heel again, he spun her slowly, his hand barely brushing over her waist as she twirled in front of him. "Are you all right now, Maka? Are you you?"

"Oh, now you care," she said bitterly.

He narrowed his eyes minutely. "I always care, Maka Albarn," he said firmly. "You're my partner."

"And what's Dark?"

Low blow. But he had to tell her. "She was my first partner, but not like that!" he said quickly, seeing the slit pupils flicker back. "We grew up together, and we found out we had weapon blood at the same time. It was a given that we ought to practice, and we were similar enough that it was the same. I swear Maka, that's all it was." A part of him noticed that he was sounding like a boyfriend explaining that he wasn't cheating, but he pushed it aside for now.

Those familiar green eyes were dark with suspicion. "How does Dark know this song?"

Soul sighed. Jealous Maka, however cute, was beginning to get annoying. "I was composing this just before I left for Shibusen. I was angry, I was isolated - hell, I was an angsty emo bastard," he admitted with a dry smile. "I couldn't figure out why this piece was giving me such a hard time; I've composed dozens of songs longer than this one and never had a problem with any of - "

"Rambling, Soul Eater," Dark deadpanned, never looking up from the ivory keys.

He closed his eyes and tried to arrange his thoughts. "I mean...it was missing something. Dark gave me a clue - she said I was missing inspiration. I didn't know what she was talking about." Hopefully, Soul opened his eyes and stared into hers. "But then I came to Shibusen, and you found me in that dark room. You asked me to play, so...I played this song. And it was perfect." The wonder in his voice was evident. "I was surprised myself. But it just came to me, and it flowed perfectly, and you...you liked it."

"I did like it. I do," Maka corrected, her grip tightening in his hand.

Dark gave a small chuckle. "What he's trying to say, Maka, is that when he found you, he immediately wrote home to me and told me all about you. He even included the finished sheet music for me to read and critique." The silvery eyes of the weapon met the green eyes of the meister. "You wanna know what it's called?"

"It has a name?"

Dark nodded. "All songs should." Her gaze dropped down to the meister's torso. "Oh my. Soul, I do believe some witch is getting pissy."

Soul followed her gaze and stopped dancing. Maka's dress was writhing, turning a poisonous shade of green and changing texture. Pebbly, like reptile skin, and unless he was seeing things, there seemed to be snake eyes staring up at him.

Maka froze, panic and fear in her eyes and terror in her voice. "Soul, it hurts. Soul, get it off me!"

He took his hand off her waist, never letting go of her hand. "Hold still," he said calmly, transforming his arm into his scythe blade. "Don't worry. This is my soul, Maka." Crimson eyes glared at the offending garment. "And this - thing - doesn't belong here."

It was over in a few slices. The dress exploded into shreds of fabric, but not a scratch was on Maka. Soul kept his eyes tightly closed as he shed his suit jacket and draped it over her shoulders. "Dark, is she decent?"

"Yup," replied the blue-haired girl. "Wicked sweet, Soul Eater. You saved your meister. Now let's go save everyone else."

"Right." He held out his hand to Maka. Those soft, warm fingers interlaced with his, sending sparks straight into his heart and soul. "Ready, Maka?" he asked, pulling her into his arms.

Maka Albarn

Kid deftly avoided Liz's bullets and saw Maka's dress vanish from her body, leaving her normal clothes behind. "They did it!" he shouted to Black*Star, who quickly ninja'd up to Liz and knocked both her and Patti out with Soul Menace. "Hey! Don't mess up my weapons' symmetry!"

Maka opened her eyes and immediately felt the familiar starchy fabric of her Spartoi uniform covering her body. She rubbed her arms, glad to not be wearing the witch's dress. Turning to Soul and Dark, she flashed a bright grin. "Okay then. What now?"

"Allavalia's magical manipulation of emotions is sort of like Arachne's manipulation of madness," said Soul, transforming into his weapon form and spinning into Maka's hands. "If we use Meditation of Souls, we can utilize the Spider Queen's web again and break the other girls free." Inside the Black Room, he took his place at his piano. "Let's do this, Maka!"

"All right!" Gripping her weapon tight, Maka joined in his cry of "Soul Resonance!"

Their souls crackled, then connected. Meister and weapon unleashed a wordless roar as their souls harmonized deeper and stronger than ever before, practically merging into one entity while remaining two seperate identities. When the wavelengths stabilized at their peak, Soul brought his hands crashing down on the keyboard to release a chord that all but disintegrated the spell Allavalia had over Tsubaki, Liz, and Patti. The weapons crumpled to the ground as the snakes within them escaped, screeched, and exploded. Another likewise met its end above Blair, who twitched and yawned before jumping back to her feet.

"All right!" shouted Black*Star ecstatically, racing over to grab Tsubaki in a crushing hug. Kid took one of Liz's hands and one of Patti's and smiled in relief when they grinned weakly back. Dark picked up Blair and scratched the purple cat's back with a giant grin on her face as well.

"And now," Maka said, gripping Soul tightly, "we finish this."

The witch let out an indignant screech when Soul morphed into Witch Hunter. "No! How could you break my spell?"

"You only manipulated my emotions, you stupid witch," Maka informed her. "That doesn't change that Soul is still my partner. If I got jealous of every girl who got close to him, I'd have permanent scowl lines on my face." She smirked in triumph. "Our bond is stronger than any magic you can dish up, Allavalia."

Allavalia hissed in rage and threw her hands above her head. "Viper, viperssss, poise-on, poison!" Green magic arced around her arms in lightning bolts of power, jumping into the sky and landing on the ground like shooting stars.

"Look out!" shouted Black*Star, picking up Tsubaki bridal style and jumping clear of the deadly bolts. Dark dropped Blair and quickly stood beside Kid, her hands transforming into her blades and guarding the Demon Twin Guns alongside the son of Death. Giving her a grateful look, Kid assumed his Stance of "Punishment" and materialized his Death Arm Blocking skull shields. Together they knocked bolts away until Liz and Patti pulled themselves together and retreated to a safe distance.

Blair's back arched as her fur puffed up in fear, making her look twice her usual size. "That's powerful magic," she mewled. "She's calling on powers she doesn't understand, nyah~ Something bad's about to happen."

The light in the witch's eyes was mad enough to make the kishin himself cower in fear. "You shall all pay in blood!" she announced. "Vengeance Poison!"

Maka tensed up in anticipation, but she was shocked to see the green magic strike not her or her friends, but the forgotten kishin eggs floating in the air. When struck, each soul writhed then changed color, turning a disgusting shade of brownish-purple. Maka shuddered. Whatever had just happened, Allavalia was clearly planning something.

And everyone felt it. Tsubaki transformed into Uncanny Sword Mode, and Liz and Patti shifted to gun form and spun into Kid's hands. Dark turned her left hand back to normal, but kept her right hand tranformed into the crescent blade of her weapon form.

Allavalia swept her arms wide, taking in every soul floating around her. "Lend me your power, kishin eggs! Anaconda Absorption!"

She opened her mouth wide - too wide. With a sick lurch of her stomach, Maka realized that the witch had actually unhinged her jaw like a real snake. The sick feeling intensified when the souls spiraled around her and funneled straight into Allavalia's mouth.

Soul gave an audible retch. "God, that must taste awful," he gagged. "Not to mention the texture. Ugh."

"Soul, please focus on the matter at hand!" Maka chided as Allavalia's own soul began to change, distorting with every new soul she swallowed. "She's taking on every kishin egg's power and adding it to her own. I think she's...trying to become a kishin!"

Allavalia swallowed the final soul, causing her body to emit a blinding glow that blinded the Shibusen students. When it cleared, Allavalia had transformed into an older, more endowed teenage version of herself. Her clothes strained to conceal her recently enlarged body, and patches of emerald scales were visible on her skin. But her arms had undergone the most drastic change, replaced with two setinent serpents that greatly resembled the creature from Maka's Basilisk Hunter.

"SSSSShibussssen," she hissed, her forked tongue sliding out of her mouth. "Your ssssssssoulssss are mine thissssssss night!" The Hydra roared in agreement, its heads swaying from side to side as it sought an angle to strike.

Dark swore. "Everybody get ready!" she shouted. "Soul Eater, I think a Chain Resonance is in order!"

Light flashed across the scythe's blade, revealing his face in its reflection. "Maka," Soul said, glancing at his partner for confirmation.

The female meister nodded. "Do it."

The sound of his piano flowed into the three meisters, and they tried to attack as one. But the Hydra's heads whipped around, slamming into each meister and throwing them backwards. Their bodies plowed furrows into the ground as their weapons were knocked from their hands.

Maka glanced at Dark. "I assume you have a plan?" she asked.

The blue-haired girl smiled wickedly. "Of course," she said. "I'm kind of insulted you asked me that question." Her right hand transformed back to normal, and she raised herself relevé (1) to pointe. "Soul Eater, play something nice, wouldja? I have a routine that's perfect for this witch."

Soul rolled his eyes. "I hate playing the crap you dance to, Dark," he grumbled.

"It won't kill you, Soul Eater."

Allavalia stopped the banter with a hiss, bringing her snake-arm back and striking quickly. Her arm extended as the snake raced for Dark, fangs extended and glistening with poison. Dark performed a tiny leap to the side, completely avoiding the attack while remaining en pointe. Her right leg came up and whipped around, the motion causing her body to spin quickly and fluidly on one foot. She continued the motion, spinning round and round until her features seemed to blur. Maka felt her eyes jitter as she started to get dizzy watching her spin over and over. "What's she doing?"

"Watch," said Soul, smiling his cool smile.

The witch cursed and hissed something that sounded like an order. The Hydra then spat and attacked, all its heads lunging for the vulnerable Dark. Both Maka and Black*Star shouted for her to get clear, while Kid quickly made Liz and Patti transform. But the Hydra was too close; he had no shot.

Soul chuckled. "It's over. He's toast."

It was like watching in slow motion. A flash of light heralded Dark's partial transformation, but instead of her hands, her right foot transformed into the spade blade.

"32 Fouettés en Tournant: L'exécution la Antoinette(3)," she said, bringing her leg around in the kicking motion once again. The blade arced out, whipping with the chain around her body. Loaded with inertia, the blade sliced across the base of the Hydra's many necks, cleanly cutting off every one. It gave one last keen as the heads and necks went flying every which way.

Dark stopped her turn on a dime. Her foot transformed back to normal as she pointed it in front of herself with a smug smile on her face. "Anytime now, Soul Eater," she deadpanned as the monster disappeared in a flash of light.

"Very well," Soul chuckled as his hands descended to the keyboard of his piano. Maka gasped in shock when she heard the music that poured into her soul. Unlike Soul's usual dark songs, this was lighter, almost ethereal, a beautiful melody that still carried a poignant touch. Black*Star and Kid likewise shivered as the music engulfed them in the Chain Resonance, empowering them but not making them attack. Dark nodded in approval, then leapt into action.

Allavalia screeched and attacked, extending her snake-arms to impossible lengths to strike with the speed of a cobra. But Dark evaded the attacks with elegant grace, appearing to fly through the air like a demon swan and alight for a mere moment before taking off again. "You're quite the slow serpent, Allavalia!" she taunted the kishin-witch. "How proud must your dead master be, knowing a child can evade you?"

"DIE!" screamed Allavalia, extending her other arm as it hissed and spat poison.

The girl spun on her toes to the side to avoid the attack, then raised her left leg almost straight up to stand arabesque(4). "Blair-chan, if you please!" Dark called, transforming her left hand into her spade blade.

Blair grabbed the brim of her hat Zwan and chanted, "Pump-pumpkin, pumpkin! Flying Pumpkins!" Pumpkins exploded into existance in the air around Allavalia, startling the kishin-witch. "Go, Scythe Girl!" meowed the cat, jumping up and down in glee.

Dark almost flew onto the first pumpkin, lashing her transformed hand at Allavalia. The witch hissed, "Venom Rain!" and her snake-arms spat poison in lethal drops. Dark leapt again, twisting in a pirouette, and striking with her other hand in its crescent-blade form.

"What is this?" breathed Kid, watching the blue-haired girl seemingly defy gravity as she leapt from pumpkin to pumpkin, striking with deadly precision. "It's so...beautiful."

"This is Dark's greatest piece," Soul murmured, still engrossed in his playing. "This is her song, the one she composed herself. Danse de la Faux."

Maka was surprised when Kid translated, "Dance of the Scythe." She was even more surprised when she saw a faint blush dust the cheeks of the son of Death. He...

"AAAAAUUUGH!" At the scream of the kishin-witch the three meisters and their weapons looked up to see one of Blair's pumpkins explode in a mess of pumpkin guts. Dark fell from the sky, her arms and legs splayed like a starfish. Soul quickly played a series of notes, channeling action into Kid, who summoned his flying skateboard and blasted off to catch Dark in his arms, bridal style.

Dark pointed up at Allavalia. The witch was now armless, both snakes having been chopped off. "Soul Eater! Do it now!" she shouted.

"Black*Star," said Soul, playing a particular chord.

The glow of Soul Resonance engulfed Black*Star and Tsubaki, making his hair ruffle in an invisible wind. His eyes snapped open, and he raised his hand to his face, the index and middle fingers raised in a sign. "Tsubaki! Uncanny Sword mode!"

"All right!"

The chain-scythe transformed into the black katana, and their Resonance increased exponentially. "Shadow*Star! Second Form - Leaf of the Moonlit Night!" The katana then transformed into an ornately-decorated shuriken. Black*Star placed his fist within the center circle, which dyed his hand jet black with ornate patterns, and aimed at Allavalia. "Taste this, witch," he snarled, unleashing the destructive energy blast from his fist.

It slammed into Allavalia, blasting her clothes to tatters and ripping flesh from her body. Magic began dancing over the injuries to heal them, but the concussive wave that followed Black*Star's attack then hit her, sending her flying off her broomstick several yards and into the side of a house.

Black*Star grinned smugly, pumping his enhanced fist in the air. "All right! We did it, Tsubaki!"

"Yes," she agreed, sounding very pleased.

Soul then played a different chord, then two in harmonized tandem. "Kidd. Liz. Patti."

Dark lightly jumped from Kid's arms as Soul Resonance spiked for the young Shinigami and his Demon Guns. His hair ruffled as blue light enveloped them, and the others watched in amazement as the guns were engulfed in bright white light and they grew larger and heavier. When the light broke, Kid was holding two 42-caliber pistols inscribed with "Death Eagle" on the barrels. "Liz, Patti, get ready," Kid said, straightening with both guns at his side.

Soul's music grew faster and darker as Kid entered Execution Mode, gaining the black needles on his shoulders and morphing his weapons into their cannon forms. Landing on the ground in a crouch, he charged his weapons for attack, hearing Liz and Patti rattle off their usual confirmations for firing. When they cleared him to fire, he slammed his weapons together and aimed straight for Allavalia as she stumbled out of the wreckage of the house. "Death Cannon," intoned the young Shinigami.

The witch screeched in agony as the energy blast hit her square in the chest, obliterating the house and sending her flying backwards yet again. When she staggered to her feet, hardly any of her skin or clothes were left intact, leaving her barely modest and completely bloody. Her arms hung uselessly, blood leaking from the stumps along with venom.

"Maka," whispered Soul, pausing slightly. "Are you ready?"

She shivered at the sound of his voice, husky and smooth as silk. "Yes."

And the chord came jangling out.

Their Soul Resonance was incredible. Raising higher than ever before, Maka almost believed she was vibrating as the blue light surrounded her. Black blood activated, slithering over her clothes to form the protective armor of the black dress she usually wore in Soul's Black Room. Her hands gripped on Soul's handle, feeling his blade glow, then shudder, then morph into the halberd-shaped form of the Scythe Meister's most devastating attack.

"Majin Hunter!"

The serpent witch gave a scream when she saw the meister and Deathscythe pair. "No! Not yet!" she screeched. "I haven't avenged Lady Medusa!"

"Serpent Witch Allavalia!" cried out Maka, holding Soul out at her side. "Your soul is mine this night!" With a wordless shout, she raced towards Allavalia.

But the witch had one last trump card. Kid saw her soul wavelength fluctuate just before she hunched in on herself. "Maka, wait!" he shouted. "Something's wrong!"

Suddenly there was a tearing sound, and the entire outer layer of Allavalia's body just peeled away like a snakeskin. When it fell away, the witch stood in her child form, whole and unmaimed, hate and rage in her slitted eyes. Raising her regenerated arms, she began chanting a spell. Blair yowled as magic began crackling like lightning around Allavalia's small body.

We can't stop! Maka thought, caught in mid-leap.

Two chained weapons - a flat spade-like blade and a crescent blade - looped around Allavalia's arms, yanking them out to her sides like she was being crucified. The chanting stopped as the witch turned and saw a familiar blue-haired girl. "You?" she screeched.

"Didn't you hear the meister?" quipped Dark, bracing her legs and arms to keep Allavalia still. "Your soul is hers. Now stay still."

Soul grinned with feral glee. "Do it, Maka!" he shouted, pushing their Soul Resonance to the limit.

Maka touched down briefly, then leapt high like a black swan. Majin Hunter came up, glowing with power, before slicing down with the power of a guillotine. Allavalia had enough time to scream before she was cut neatly in half and exploding. When the smoke cleared, her soul glowed purple among the kishin souls she had consumed.

The victory was so abrupt that the combatants were momentarily confused. But when it was clear that Allavalia was dead, adrenaline faded and each Shibusen student dropped to the ground, panting heavily. Even Blair stretched on her stomach, mewing in exhaustion.

"We did it," breathed Maka, staggering as the black blood settled. "We really did it..." Her legs chose that minute to buckle and pitch her to the ground.

But in a flash of light, two strong arms caught her tightly. That familiar dark chuckle echoed in her ears. "Yes, we did."

Dark managed to stumble over to Allavalia's purple soul and reach for it, cupping the glowing orb in her hands. "One witch soul, and two hundred kishin eggs," she said breathily. "Not bad for a night's work." She swayed unsteadily on her feet, but Kid managed to support her against his chest before she fell. She gave him a weak smile, which he reciprocated.

Maka wanted to smile at the scene, but she was beginning to sway as well. The stress, coupled with backlash from Allavalia's spell and her own exhaustion, was making her lightheaded and dizzy. But despite her body's cries for sleep, she resisted falling unconscious. She was gripped with an irrational fear that if her eyes closed, Soul wouldn't be there anymore. Panic swamped her, and her hands instinctively locked behind his neck.

"Maka?" Soul said in surprise, picking her up bridal style in his arms to keep from falling. "Maka, what's wrong?" When she didn't immediately respond, he looked over to Blair. "Oy, Blair. Can you fly us back to Death City?"

The magical cat summoned four pumpkins, letting them pair up on the floating orange squashes. Once they were all aboard, she directed them back towards Death City as fast as she could. Soul's grip stayed tight on Maka, shielding her as best he could from the wind.

I'm so...so tired... she thought. Soul...he does so much for me... "Soul," she murmured as the panic grew while her eyelids fluttered shut, "you'll be here when I wake up, right?"

Her panic was dispelled when he chuckled again. "Don't worry, Maka. I'll be here." His hold on her tightened briefly. "I'm not letting you out of my sight again."

This is why... Maka sighed with relief as her head tilted limply back. This is why I've fallen so hard for you, Soul.

Stay tuned, folks! There's also an epilogue on its way!

A.N.

All the ballet terms (in italics) I used I found online, so to all you readers who actually do ballet, I apologize if I royally screw anything up.

1 - Relevé is when the dancer raises from any position to balance on one or both feet, and since Dark is raising to full pointe, she is completely balanced on her toes.

2 - What Dark did here is called fouetté rond de jambe en tournant. Basically, it's a turn with the working leg kicking out and around to create the impetus to make the dancer turn, while raising from flat foot to en pointe. Done correctly, the dancer will not move an inch along the floor.

3 - translated literally, this is "32 turning fouettés: the Execution of Antionette". 32 fouettés is very difficult to do and is considered a very impressive skill for a ballerina, showing off strength, stamina and technique, while the last part is a reference to how Marie Antionette was executed in the French Revolution. (Sorry to those who know this already, but some don't.)

4 - Arabesque is when the dancer stands on one leg while the other leg is extended behind the body, normally at 45 and 90 degree angles, with both knees straight. In this story, Dark is performing Arabesque penchée, when the dancer's leg raises above 90 degrees and the body leans forward to counterbalance.